The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions

by Roger Eastman (Editor)

Revised and updated, the third edition of this highly acclaimed anthology surveys all the major religious traditions--Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and African religions--and also covers Zen Buddhism, Shinto, and the religious experience in America. Ideal for courses in world religions and comparative religion, it introduces the unique claims, hopes, and wisdom of each tradition in its own voice, through substantial excerpts from its scriptures, prophets, and authors. "I have tried to pay heed," Eastman writes in his Preface, "to A. C. Bouquet's warning of many years ago that the study of religion may sink to the level of collecting dead insects or pressed flowers, which in the process lose all their color and reality. There is not much excuse for a dreary book about a subject as inherently interesting and provocative as the world's religions."
The following selections are new to the third Diana L. Eck's "Frontiers of Encounter," Barbara Stoler Miller on Yoga, R. K. Narayan's story "Chudala," Julia Ching's "Confucianism in Perspective," Thomas Merton on Chuang Tzu, Joseph M. Kitagawa's "The Way of the Kami," Ian Reader on Shinto, Vincent Mulago on African Religions, and "A Personal Note" by John Hick.

Genres: Religion, Nonfiction

560 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Bryan Grover · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandfather put it best when he gave me this tome from his collection: "if you weren't an atheist before you read this, you will be after"

Contained are a fascinating set of essays and lectures of the academic and historical type concerning all the major religions.

In two words:
Extremely informative

[Lori Shinkō Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great and thorough book for a world religion class - however the Zen Buddhism section....was a little dramatic. I'm not totally crazy about D.T. Suzuki and his writing was held to be the pinnacle along with some outdated ideas.

[Mark Gowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am re-reading this book. I use it in a class that I teach. it offers bits and pieces of religous texts as well as some short essays from theologians and academics explaining certain religious beliefs. While it is very broad in scope, this is also its weakness. I use it in class because it is succinct, and broad, but I also use "World Religions" in my class as well in order to fill out the gaps that I believe are in the book. I would have liked more analytical viewpoints concerning religious belief, explanatory rather than critical, in order to introduce students to concepts. For source material, I would rather use the sources themselves (for example, the Indian and Chinese sourcebooks, the KJ bible etc...). Decent starter, but I still look for a new book every semester.

[Brant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection of writings from different Religious faiths.